Press & Reviews

.......If you’re looking to learn more about reindeer, look no further than Noel Productions of Osseo, where the Fritz family raises a herd of real, live reindeer. “We really cherish our reindeer herd,” said Hannah Fritz, a second-generation reindeer farmer...." 

Many families have Christmas traditions. For the Fritz family, the holidays mean loading a trailer up with reindeer, hitting the road, and stopping at schools and holiday events to show their animals. The family – Jeff, his wife, Terri, and their children Hans, Hannah, 15, and Sven, 13 – has raised reindeer, elk and other nontraditional livestock on their farm near Osseo, south of Eau Claire, for more than 20 years. They’ve been showing their reindeer for the past 12 years. “We have a tradition of going out on the road,” said Jeff Fritz, 48, noting that as each Christmas nears they begin traveling the region. This week the family made a hometown stop at the Osseo school, giving children a chance to pet their reindeer and camel, Nora. The kids gawked at the animals, who remained calm while being petted. The animals’ calm demeanor isn’t accidental. Jeff said the family breeds the reindeer for temperament, noting that it can take a couple of generations to breed calm reindeer that are good around children. For the Fritz children, raising reindeer always has been a part of their lives. “It’s something that’s in their blood,” Jeff Fritz said..."

...The reindeer owned by the Fritz family are from Osseo. Jeff Fritz says his family owns more than 50 reindeer. Reindeer are one of only two species, the other being caribou, where male and females grow antlers. Dasher is a female reindeer..."

.....Fritz, who grew up on a dairy farm, bought his first reindeer in Canada nearly three decades ago and in the years since has developed a thriving business. Rather than dressing as storybook elves, the Fritz family dons authentic Laplander garb when displaying their reindeer. Their costumes help them educate the public about the history of human-reindeer interaction and the species’ cultural importance to the Laplanders – or Sami people – who live in northern Scandinavia, Finland, and Russia. Around the North Pole, reindeer – who are cousins to caribou – are raised for meat, hides, antlers, milk, and (yes, it’s true) transportation.The family and their reindeer are as busy as Santa’s elves during the Christmas season, but everybody’s ready to rest by the New Year, especially the cows, who begin calving in mid-April....“The biggest thing about it is people really do enjoy them,” Fritz says of the reindeer. And while adults are fascinated by their historical and cultural importance, he adds, “Kids really get a kick out of reindeer and Santa Claus.” 

....The Fritz family of rural Osseo raise reindeer and nontraditional livestock on their farm, and over the past 12 years they have traveled the state and beyond, showing their animals at schools and elsewhere....." 

.......Fritz’s parents have raised reindeer at their Osseo, Wis., farm since the 1980s, so Hans and his younger siblings grew up alongside Santa’s iconic beasts.  The 18-year-old calls the stout, shaggy, splay-footed deer “one of the best-dispositioned animals out there. Few Wisconsin farms have reindeer, and even fewer offer them for special events. But the Fritzes have embraced the role, appearing in Laplander costumes and training several of their reindeer to pull sleigh for parades and other occasions. Sister Hannah, 15, and brother Sven, 13, both help in JT’s Elk Valley Ranchfarm and Noel Productions. Hans, however, “lives and breathes reindeer,” said his father, Jeff..........." 

..downtown reindeer in Aspen Colorado.."

.....Constantly on the go from late November through December, leasing some of his animals for events in Oshkosh, LaCrosse and Madison.....It's a unique industry," said Fritz, who named his company Noel Productions.... "You can never beat out Santa Claus and reindeer.... people don't forget reindeer," Fritz said.

...Noel Productions in Osseo brought the reindeer for the visit, which also featured Dasher, Dancer and Comet. Four of Santa’s reindeer came down from the North Pole to visit...."